Saturday, September 15, 2012

From the publisher:The First Volume in the
Gallaudet Deaf Literature Series
In Deaf life, the personal narrative holds sway because most Deaf individuals
recall their formative years as solitary struggles to understand and to be
understood. Few deaf people in the past related their stories in written form,
relying instead on a different kind of “oral” tradition, that of American Sign
Language. During the last several decades, however, a burgeoning bilingual deaf
experience has ignited an explosion of Deaf writing that has pushed the
potential of ASL-influenced English to extraordinary creative heights. Deaf
American Prose: 1980–2010 presents a diverse cross-section of stories,
essays, memoirs, and novel excerpts by a remarkable cadre of Deaf writers that
mines this rich, bilingual environment.
The works in Deaf American Prose frame the Deaf narrative in myriad
forms: Tom Willard sends up hearing patronization in his wicked satire “How to
Write Like a Hearing Reporter” Terry Galloway injects humor in “Words,” her
take on the identity issues of being hard of hearing rather than deaf or
hearing. Other contributors relate familiar stories about familiar trials, such
as Tonya Stremlau’s account of raising twins, and Joseph Santini’s short story
of the impact on Deaf and hearing in-laws of the death of a son. The conflicts
are well-known and heartfelt, but with wrinkles directly derived from the Deaf
perspective.
Several of the contributors expand the Deaf affect through ASL glosses and
visual/spatial elements. Sara Stallard emulates ASL on paper through its syntax
and glosses, and by eliminating English elements, a technique used in dialogue
by Kristen Ringman and others. Deaf American Prose features the work of
other well-known contemporary Deaf writers, including co-editor Kristen Harmon,
Christopher Jon Heuer, Raymond Luczak, and Willy Conley. The rising Deaf writers
presented here further distinguish the first volume in this new series by
thinking in terms of what they can bring to English, not what English can bring
to them.Kristen Harmon is Professor of English, Gallaudet University, Washington,
DC.Jennifer Nelson is Professor of English, Gallaudet University,
Washington, DC.

Outcasts and Angels The New Anthology of Deaf Characters in Literature, Edna Edith Sayers, Editor (September 2012)
From the publisher:

In 1976, Trent Batson and Eugene Bergman released their classic
Angels and Outcasts: An
Anthology of Deaf Characters in Literature. In it, they featured works
from the 19th and 20th centuries by well-known authors such as Charles Dickens
and Eudora Welty. They also presented less-well-known deaf authors, and they
prefaced each excerpt with remarks on context, societal perceptions, and the
dignity due to deaf people. Since then, much has transpired, turning around the
literary criticism regarding portrayals of deaf people in print. Edna Edith
Sayers reflects these changes in her new collection Outcasts and Angels: The
New Anthology of Deaf Characters in Literature.
Sayers mines the same literary vein as the first volume with rich new results.
Her anthology also introduces rare works by early masters such as Daniel Defoe.
She includes three new deaf authors, Charlotte Elizabeth, Howard T. Hofsteater,
and Douglas Bullard, who offer compelling evidence of the attitudes toward deaf
people current in their eras. In search of commonalities and comparisons, Sayers
reveals that the defining elements of deaf literary characters are fluid and
subtly different beyond the predominant dueling stereotypes of preternaturally
spiritual beings and thuggish troglodytes.Outcasts and Angels demonstrates these subtle variations in writings by
Ambrose Bierce, Isak Dinesen, Nadine Gordimer, and Flannery O’Connor. Stories by
Juozas Grušas, Julian Barnes, and many other international authors broaden the
scope of this updated inquiry into the deaf literary character. Sayers’ preface
and closing essay bring any disparate parts together, completing Outcasts and
Angels as a fitting, contemporary companion to the original classic
collection.Edna Edith Sayers is former Professor of English at
Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.Print Edition
ISBN 978-1-56368-539-2, 1-56368-539-6, 7 x 10 paperback, 368 pages, references$35.00tE-Book
ISBN 978-1-56368-540-8, 1-56368-540-X$35.00

I am really excited about Lynn McElfresh's, author of Can You Feel the Thunder?(1999), forthcoming publication Strong Deaf. Two years ago, almost on the exact date, the author contacted me to review her manuscript. Because I read the manuscript, I don't want to make any further comments until I see the actual book but be sure you'll read more posts from me about this book.

Every Friday, we drive two and a half hours to
Bradington to where my sister Marla goes to residential school for the
deaf. I told Mom that when I go to Bradington, I hoped I would get
to stay on the fourth floor just like Marla.

Mom looked at me like I was crazy.

”Silly,” she signed. “You no go Bradington. You not
deaf.” Of course I knew I could hear, but what did that have to do
with anything?

Jade is the only hearing member in her family. Her older sister gets to go to the school for the deaf headed by her grandfather Gilbert, but Jade feels left out. Marla thinks her little sister is a pest and a brat. When they end up on the same softball team for the summer, neither is happy about it. Jade, the smallest player on the team, is assigned to be the catcher. It looks like it’s going to be a long season. As sisters, they are often at loggerheads, but as team mates Jade and Marla have to find ways to get along. In spite of their differences, they soon discover that each has a lot to offer the other.

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Author Brian Selznick likes R-hand shaped signs such as
RULES, an R-lettered word I can't recall, and SARCASTIC (huh? Yep, I think he
was just on a roll naming his favorite signs by that point). He does not care
for signs on or around the nose liked BORED or FLOWER. How do I know this, you
ask? Brian Selznick is at Gallaudet University taking an ASL course. *Insert
professional Squeal here*

When I interviewed him in January, I did so via email since he was traveling
for the premiere of the movie Hugo. Yesterday was the first time I actually *met*
him in person. After arranging to meet for lunch, I bumped into him that
morning in the student center while he was studying with a group of ASL
students. Instantly it felt like we were old friends hugging for a greeting and
laughing from the start. Our lunch date, which I call it that because he IS my
current professional crush, would include a juicy insider tip which he quickly
noted that I could not blog about... But he didn't say I couldn't blog about
not blogging about it so HA Brian Selznick! There! I am NOT telling your
secret! To be fair, I told him a little something I wouldn't want him to share
either plus I asked for the biggest favor ever and he said no! *gasp* Even
after I told him who the girl is in the statue in front of campus **Spoiler
Alert for new ASL students doing their homework... Her name is Alice ;p**

Even without promising to take me to any future Oscar red carpet events, I still like this
guy! I showed him Gallaudet's infamous "coffin door" after making him
climb over a small wall in 90 degree weather. I was in a dress and completely
forgot I was a tenured professor and should be acting professional. Selznick
looked like any other student-- Gallaudet jacket and Gallaudet hat. He only
wore the hat outdoors for the picture. I would like to say that I talked him
into posing Nosferatu-style in front of the coffin door because I teach a vampire course but really I just like people to pose silly for pictures. After
several *cool* pictures, he fell for my charm (read that as I badgered him into
it) and posed.

When I asked him why he was taking ASL classes I wondered if it had something
to do with his book Wonderstruck. In
fact, it did! After doing research, he has made some close friends who are Deaf
and he said he really just wants to communicate with his friends (and potential
new friends) using ASL. He talked about the importance of the Deaf Community
and Deaf Culture... And again I would like to emphasize my professional crush. *Insert
professional Squeal here* For most of our conversation, Selznick used ASL. For
a writer of English and a new signer, he seems oddly comfortable using his
non-native language.

Selznick is already working on another book but it is probably too soon to tell
if a Deaf Character will sneak his or her way into his writing. *crosses
fingers* After the success of Wonderstruckand a literal world wind adventure of Hugo the movie, he doesn't have much *time
off* so for him to decide to learn ASL on his free time says something about his character; for him
to come to Gallaudet for a two week intensive ASL course... Well, that reveals
just a little bit more I would think.

He's fun; his books are fun; he's extremely down to earth and humble (He didn't
even tell his ASL class peers he was THE Brian Selznick!). And I hope, hope,
hope we'll cross paths in the future.

Monday, July 16, 2012

I'm back on campus to meet the newest group of first year students for a pre-fall program and what a nice surprise to find a copy ofSilentStar: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill
Wise (Author) and Adam Gustavson (Illustrator) in my faculty box! I am looking forward to reading this book and interviewing the author.

William
Hoy loved baseball. Growing up in the 1860s and ’70s, he dreamed of one day
playing in the major leagues. A far-off fantasy for many boys, fulfilling this
dream was even more of a long shot for William, who was deaf.

Striving to find his place in a hearing world, Hoy became a shoemaker. He took
pride in his work, but baseball was still his real love. When an amateur team
coach saw him playing behind the shoemaker’s shop, Hoy dazzled the coach with
his hard-hitting skills. Moving from amateur clubs to the minor leagues and
eventually to the majors, Hoy proved himself again and again—overcoming
obstacles and becoming a star both on and off the baseball diamond.

Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy is a tribute to
one of the most inspirational figures in baseball history. A talented player
with a standout record, Hoy is a shining example that success in life should
not be measured by differences but by drive and determination.

B Roman is an adolescent literature author who incorporates mystical and musical themes in her work. She describes The Secrets of the Moon Singer as “a metaphysical adventure series which involves a deaf teenage boy who comes to realize over time that his ‘disability’ is also his greatest gift. But this realization does not come easily - or even in the first book of the trilogy” Deaf Character David Nickerson is confronted by a series of family crises: his father's unemployment, his deafness after a serious illness and the disappearance of his sister. David begins experimenting with crystals and even conjures up the Moon Singer which takes him on a fantastic journey. In the "other world," David is able to hear. Roman writes, “My character's deafness is not just a plot device, as readers will discover if they stay with me through the many otherworldly journeys the boy makes. The stories speak to unconditional love, family loyalties, dealing with tragic loss, and experiencing unexpected miracles.” This trilogy is how Roman made her debut into young adult fiction.

SP: What made you decide to make David's character deaf or to even
include a deaf character?

BR:In order to answer
that, I have to go back to the beginning, and to how I was inspired to write
the trilogy itself. I don't want to get too metaphysical here, but the
stories have their roots in my delving into spiritual and supernatural
subjects. I actually own a Singer crystal – shaped like a small
sailboat - that inspired the Moon Singer trilogy and its first
adventure, “The Crystal Clipper.” I found this unique crystal at a
crystal workshop one day – actually, it found me – which, it is said, is what
crystals are preordained to do. I would hold the crystal up and ponder it
now and then, and a story began to take hold in my mind. Originally, it
was to be a children's picture book about a little boy and his magic crystal
shaped like a boat that let him sail to magical places. But then it grew
in scope and little by little found its focus.

Young David Nickerson
has come by his own Singer crystal because it was meant for him; he is
the one true owner of the Singer, which gives him all of his powers and
manifests into the Moon Singer ship which takes him on all of his
adventures. David is a hearing impaired young man – normal in every way in his
“real life” – who becomes an "action hero" with extraordinary powers
in worlds he never knew existed, because of his deafness: this is
an important aspect of young David's character which allows me to demonstrate
how he can hear the internal cravings of his soul, understand the hearts and
minds of others, and find his own individual power and strength. Hearing
people who meditate are always instructed to do so in a quiet, silent
environment - "Be still, and know..." David just has to learn
how to use his natural silence for his own growth and knowledge, and so his
"disability" becomes his greatest gift. But he doesn't come by this
knowledge easily or quickly. It takes the three books to solidify.

SP: What type of research did you do for the book to make your characters
realistic?

BR: I've been a
performing artist since I was a child, and in my adult years I also became a
song writer and author of non-fictions books on the power of music. It is
no accident of creativity that my music career would carry over into my story
writing. A strong underlying theme of The Secrets of the Moon Singer and
my other children's stories concerns the power of music to heal, to represent
love and truth, to create and sustain life – or to destroy it. Thus, in "The
Crystal Clipper" we have Princess Saliana whose song has the gift of
healing, and her sacred Rose Crystal Pendant contains the musical codes of
immortality. For David, I researched what kind of illnesses could have
caused him to becomes deaf (he wasn't born that way), what types of hearing
aids and other devices he could use to function normally in life, and what treatments
for his deafness were available - (none of which worked for him, when they
would have for someone else, and why they didn't - but that's a major part of
the storyline).

SP: Do you know any deaf people or have you learned American Sign
Language?

BR: I know a few people
who have hearing impairments, but with the help of hearing aids they are able
to hear quite well. I have a close friend who is a speech therapist who
uses sign language with her deaf clients, most of whom are children. I
have not learned any sign language myself, so my experience with the deaf is
very limited. In fiction, while one can take license with characters and
plots, it is also important to make your stories credible and to treat the
subject matter with respect. One doesn't always have to have a personal
experience to write about it; for example, an author can write a detective
story without having been a detective, but the author still has a
responsibility to do the research required to make the detective
realistic. Although I've placed my main character, David, in far-fetched
situations, I do strive to make him as credible as possible in the way that he
deals with his deafness in both the real world as well as the "other
world."

SP: What do you hope that readers will learn or take away from the
book?

BR: As the adventures
follow David's “coming of age” transformation from a naïve and conflicted boy
to a determined and purposeful young man, readers may find themselves able to
examine their own lives and work through any obstacles that have been holding
them back from realizing their true potential. There is a lot of family angst
going on in the stories, and the characters are constantly learning how to deal
with these relationships. I also touch on topical issues such as respect
for the environment, ethics (or lack thereof) in business, the misuse of power,
the contrast between good and evil, and the importance of personal and
Universal Truth and integrity.

As the stories
developed, I hoped to reach young boys looking for a main character who
triumphed heroically over his circumstances, as well as appeal to young girls
who are looking for a boy who will gallantly protect and selflessly nurture
them, all the while allowing girls to maintain their individuality and strength
of character. For both genders I wanted to create characters they could
respect and whose virtues they would want to emulate.

I realize that teens
today are attracted to pop culture that focuses on dark and violent themes, but
my mind just doesn't go there in storytelling. I hope that my stories
will offer kids a balance, especially if they are just beginning to ponder
ethical, spiritual and metaphysical thoughts and concepts. Of course, I
try to give them an enjoyable, suspenseful, and uplifting reading
experience. It is a trilogy of adventures written to appeal to the youth
in all of us, and with a respect for language and prose that hopefully will
inspire young people to read material that requires time and attention to
spiritual matters.

In contrast, I try to
write very visually. I am a lover of films, especially good films for
kids (of all ages) like E.T., Free Willy, the Black Stallion, etc., that
blend the fantastic with the real and where the young main characters find
their courage to perform selfless acts. From the beginning, I've seen the Moon
Singer trilogy as films because of the many special effects (e.g., a
supernaturally-powered clipper ship made of crystal and gold that can sail
through the cosmos as well as on the sea) written into the books. In fact, I
invite your artistic readers to illustrate and animate my books to their
heart's content; maybe we can collaborate on an illustrated version of my
books, or on a video! Any producers out there?

SP: What advice would you give to young people who are reading your books
for the first time?

BR:The
Secrets of the Moon Singer
books are short, and quick reads. But, they take readers on a continuing
journey through the lives of several key characters that they can relate to
emotionally. Their travails, challenges, joys, and moments of insightful
discovery are those that most people have encountered in their own lives, while
the story environments are those of fantasy.

The main
focus of the trilogy is selfless love and being of service to others. For
David, his quest is always to save a life that means more to him than his own,
and in doing so he delves into questions about his life purpose and soul
mission, while also dealing with very real day-to-day problems.

I'm not
quite sure what age group my books are for. I'm hoping they will bridge
the generations from kids to adults. So, I didn't write "down"
to any age group. I was a voracious reader, especially as a child, and
many of the books I read went far beyond just fare for kids my age - great
American plays, philosophy, psychology, poetry - so I believe even young kids
can absorb sophisticated language. I loved reading and finding new words,
circling them as I read then looking them up in the dictionary and finding new
nuggets of language gold. I still do this.

SP: Since this is part of a Trilogy, can you tell us anything about the
next adventure and will David be the main character?

BR: David Nickerson is
the main character in all the books. Adventure Two: "The War
Chamber" has David trying to process the phenomenal experiences of
Adventure One. As captain of the mystical sailing ship Moon Singer, he
had saved his sister's life on the Island of Darkness, and could miraculously
hear what others could not. Now, as his home town argues over how to revive a
stagnant economy, David despairs that those miracles have dissipated. He
is just as deaf as before, his sister's paralysis has returned, and anguish
over his mother's death is overwhelming. At her gravesite, determined to
communicate with her through his sacred crystal, he is instead transported to a
strange city caught in a time warp between a hi-tech, militant past and a
peaceful, simple way of life. He encounters a revered woman who becomes a
surrogate mother to him and helps him understand how his deafness and his
mother's karmic mission are intertwined.

Throughout all the
twists and turns of plot and story, which become more sophisticated and complex
with each adventure, David struggles with the "reason" for his
deafness, as well as how he and his family deal with the realities of it.
Adventure Three: The Wind Rose, is into technology, Apocalyptic fears,
world-wide disasters, and the power of music as a force of nature.
Ultimately, David learns he must make an extremely difficult decision:
shall he have that operation that will restore his hearing or...? Well, I won't
spoil the surprise ending, for I believe it is yet to take me to places even I
do not anticipate....

Plagued by a series of apocalyptic
visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family
from a coming storm, or from himself.

Main
character Curtis begins to have bad dreams and hallucinations about an
impending story which turns people into zombie-like versions of themselves. Because
of a family history of schizophrenia, he seeks medical help and counseling. Simultaneously,
he begins rebuilding, and adding to, the storm shelter in the family’s
backyard. The cost of the storm shelter is high especially for a working class
family who has major medical bills coming due to their Deaf daughter’s Cochlear
Implant surgery.

Leo Tolstoy writes, “Everyone
thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” This may
be exactly how both author Michael Thal and his main character, David Rothman feel.
Both are affecting others’ lives with their work, and both did not actively
decide to make a change to themselves. Rather, one was decided for them. Author
Michael Thal lost his hearing in his forties as a result of a virus and writes,
"I was motivated to write Good-Bye
Tchaikovsky as a way to heal the pain of my hearing loss”. Thal was a
teacher for decades before becoming a writer. Already having touched so many,
this book is another opportunity to bring a message to young people. In Good-Bye Tchaikovsky, Deaf Character
David is already going through the change of adolescence and the change of
receiving world-wide attention; he must now confront his own body that has changed
literally overnight. As a violin virtuoso, his performance of Tchaikovsky’s
Violin Concerto draws attention from the masses including the Queen of England.
On his twelfth birthday, David loses his hearing. Both
Thal and his character David could have pitied themselves but instead, they
both rose to the meet the changes in their lives.

Below is my interview with author
Michael Thal who describes with experiences with his book Goodbye Tchaikovsky.

(To the right is a picture of the author from last summer while visiting Virginia City, Nevada. Don't worry; he isn't really a jailbird!)

SP: What
made you decide to make David's character deaf or to even include a deaf
character especially one who could use sign language?

MT: David
Rothman, the POV character in Goodbye
Tchaikovsky, appeared in the opening scene of the book as he played Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto before a
sell-out crowd. The 11 year-old child prodigy was one of the best violinists in
the world. The morning of his twelfth birthday the boy woke up to a profound
silence. I chose a hearing child turned deaf for my book’s novel because I
wanted to explore the emotional effect of hearing loss on an adolescent. I lost
my hearing at the age of 44. I was curious what the reaction would have been to
a pre-teen and the affect of deafness on his development during his teen years.

SP: How
does your experience as a sixth grade teacher help you write a book for a young
audience?

MT: I
taught elementary and middle school for 28 years. I understand the age group.
This comprehension helped me as an author to develop realistic dialogue and
emotional reactions to character life problems.

SP: What
type of research did you do for the book to make your characters
realistic?

MT: Before
I even had the idea for the book, I studied ASL at a Tripod program in Burbank,
California. After the program was terminated I attended ASL classes at Pierce
College, in Los Angeles. My knowledge of sign was a huge help when I spent a
few days observing classrooms at the Marlton School. This is a school for the
Deaf and hard of hearing in Los Angeles where ASL is the primary language used
in the classroom. My friend and former ASL teacher, Stephanie Johnson, was kind
enough to let me watch her class and introduced me to other teachers at the
school so I could observe their classes, too. I also interviewed people who attended
Deaf schools as adolescents. My interview with Deaf actor/director Troy Kotsur
was a huge help.

SP: Since
you have experienced some hearing loss, have you learned any American Sign
Language?

MT: Just
for the record, I am legally deaf in my right ear and have a profound loss in
my left. After the doctor told me I had a progressive hearing loss, it seemed
to me a no brainer to start learning ASL. I’ve been studying the language for
the last 18 years. Though I’m close to fluent, I am slow at reading finger
spellings and Deaf friends have to slow down a bit. However, I find that I
understand them better than hearing people, even with my hearing aides on. I am
so glad I learned and encourage all hard-of-hearing people to do the same.

SP: What
do you hope that readers will learn or take away from the book?

MT: I
want readers to understand how lonely it is to be deaf in a hearing world. I
want them to realize how important it is to look at a Deaf or hard of hearing
person and speak slowly. None of us want to be dismissed with comments like,
“Oh, never mind.” Or “It isn’t important.” For a time, my own brother wouldn’t
talk to me because he didn’t want to repeat himself. Hearing loss is an
invisible disability. I hope Goodbye
Tchaikovsky takes away some of the screens and adds texture to the problem.

SP: What
advice would you give to young people who are reading your books for the first
time?

MT: I
hope they enjoy themselves and provide me with feedback. I encourage them to
visit my website at www.michaelthal.com
or e-mail me at michaelthal@sbcglobal.net. Perhaps they will also enjoy my
novel, The Legend of Koolura, a story
about a sixth-grade girl who has very cool powers, which she uses to
battle a stalker determined on destroying her and her friends.

Monday, April 02, 2012

Book Description A twelve-year-old violin virtuoso, David Rothman, is plunged into a deaf world, necessitating him to adapt to a new culture and language in order to survive. Rothman is an overnight success. He performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in New York’s Symphony Hall with rave reviews attracting the attention of the Queen of England. His future is laid out for him like a well-lit freeway. Then, on his birthday, David suffers from a sudden and irreparable hearing loss, plunging him into a silent world. Written from his own perspective, the novel shows how an adolescent boy sets about coping with this devastating new condition. It takes time. How will he communicate with his friends? What can he do about school? How do you deal with unexpected and possibly dangerous situations? What will his future be like?

The author, a teacher who lost his hearing in his forties as a result of a virus, says: "I was motivated to write Good-Bye Tchaikovsky as a way to heal the pain of my hearing loss. I was curious what it would have been like if I lost my hearing when I was in sixth grade and not as a 44 year-old adult."Goodbye Tchaikovsky

Monday, March 26, 2012

I will be reading this book next. The author writes that The Secrets of the Moon “is a metaphysical adventure series which involves a deaf teenage boy who comes to realize over time that his 'disability' is also his greatest gift. But this realization does not come easily - or even in the first book of the trilogy… The stories speak to unconditional love, family loyalties, dealing with tragic loss, and experiencing unexpected miracles.”

Book Description

In Adventure One of the trilogy, young David Nickerson deals with a series of family crises: his father's unemployment, his deafness after a serious illness and now, the mysterious disappearance of his sister Sally, crippled in the crash that killed their mother. Desperate to find her, David experiments with sacred crystals, and conjures up the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which takes him on a fantastic journey to an uncharted mystical island filled with danger. The people David encounters all have a soul connection to him and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over. When he must rescue a young princess with the gift of healing in her song, held prisoner in a palace tower, David believes he will also rescue his sister Sally. Strangely, too, in this "other world," David finds he can hear for the first time in years. This gift foretells his destiny: to explore the contrast between goodness and evil, and to save a life that means more to him than his own.

Seventeen year old Michael Anderson and his deaf kid brother, Danny, find themselves in mortal danger after their parents are kidnapped by ruthless biophysicist, Samuel Herrington. Michael discovers Danny has a powerful gift-he knows what happens after a person dies-and now others want to know, too. The brothers must outwit and outrun Herrington, the FBI, and even fellow Americans in a harrowing cross-country chase, because whoever gets to Danny first will have the power to control the fate of every person on earth.

Elyse Salpeter’s Flying to the Light is told through the perspective of older brother Michael who until a few days before the story begins is an average high school student with parents who work as scientists and a little brother Danny who just happens to be deaf and uses American Sign Language to communicate. The entire family is fairly fluent in ASL and the characters attempt to gain Danny’s attention through visual clues. Salpeter explains that Danny’s deafness wasn’t intended as a disability. “It is simply a part of who he is, but I do make him special…” In fact, Danny is so special that older brother Michael’s world is completely changed in this science fiction thriller.

Danny has special powers. I won’t give this away but readers discover the impact of these powers through the eyes of Michael who is confused and unsure whom to trust especially because he learns that his parents and little brother aren’t exactly the family members he always though they were. He seeks assistance from friends of the family, and even his teachers but again and again discovers the magnitude of situation.

I am a sucker for supernatural elements and I really, really, really want to tell you about some other aspects of the book but you’re going to have to read this for yourself.

Check out my interview with author Elyse Salpeter whom I learned on her website that she had published a short story in a Vampire magazine. If you’re interested in vampire stories, she co-edited one and was a contributing author to Nights of Blood 2. I will point out that this wasn’t a tease. Flying to the Light does not include any vampires…. Or does it?!? Bwa ha ha ha ha ;)

*********************************************

SP: What influenced your decision to have Danny be a deaf character who uses sign language?

ES: When I was first thinking about writing FLYING TO THE LIGHT, I was staring at a group of birds and imagining this unique idea about them. It was so quiet and peaceful as I watched them and this vision of a little boy came into my head. I wanted to make him special, to have this great ability. When I decided for him to be deaf, it wasn’t because I wanted him to be perceived as having a disability, but simply be a part of who he was. His family and the people around him don’t treat him any differently, they just have to learn how to communicate with him effectively to find out all the wonderful things he knows. I also don’t see a lot of deaf characters in mainstream fiction and I thought it would be a unique and interesting concept for people to read about.

I love the idea of children being able to communicate and while I think lip-reading is a great skill, I always liked the idea of a parent being able to communicate with their children at a very young age. Kids want so badly to express themselves and to be understood, so knowing and using sign language was something I wanted the parents to have used with my character from the very beginning. I explore Danny talking a little bit and lip-reading in the novel, but I concentrate on sign language mostly.

SP: What is your experience with American Sign Language and Deaf people? (did you consult anyone or any websites to learn about deaf people/deaf characters?)

ES: I took ASL classes for two years at Stony Brook University. My professor, who was deaf and didn’t speak, was wonderful and taught us so much. I remember one evening walking to an evening study group and we were all moving through the Student Union building and in one of the side rooms music was BLASTING. It was incredibly loud and my professor started dancing to the beat and I stared at him, confused as to how he could hear the music. He saw my expression and immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me to the floor, pressing my hands against it. The floor was literally pounding and vibrating from the bass of the speakers and we just sat that way for quite a while “listening and bopping to the music” as people walked all around us. That’s where I got one of the ideas in the book for Michael and Danny to get away, by making a television super loud.

I tried to be true to the character. I remembered things my teacher taught us, I watched videos to learn, read about products and talked to a lot of different folks in the community on Twitter. I’m sure I might have made some mistakes or taken some liberties in the book, but I tried very hard to be as accurate and true to Danny as I could. I’m hoping that if I do finish a sequel, I’ll be even more true to the character.

There are times I utilized my own personal story as reference as well. I have lost about 40% hearing in my left ear. We’re not sure why, but it’s slowly getting worse. I find I have to strain to hear people at times, face them so I can read their lips and see if I can catch all the conversation. It’s a struggle in my own home, especially when my family is calling me from another room, while the television is on, and I’m running water to do the dishes! I have to stop everything, walk up to them and speak to them (geez, you think they’d come to me!). And, if I’m having a hard time falling asleep, I’ll turn to my right side. If I’m on my left side, I can hear everything, but if I turn over and cover my good ear, the house is suddenly very quiet and I fall right to sleep. Not great when I need to hear the kids, though. I used a baby monitor for years after I really needed to, just to make sure I could hear one of my children whose room was on the far side of the house. I also have to be really careful in my office. If I put the phone to my good ear to hear, I have no idea I’m actually speaking much more loudly than I need to. One of my co-workers literally pounds on the wall to let me know I’m probably shouting!

SP: Would you discuss a bit of your process. How do you begin writing? What research did you do?

ES: Writing to me must come first from an idea. I’m always amazed at writers who MUST write a sequel for a book because it’s in their contract. That kind of pressure to find a compelling enough idea and produce something seems overwhelming. For me, it’s like a muse appears… suddenly an idea pops into my head and I’m inspired and just have to get the idea out. With FLYING TO THE LIGHT, I started thinking about birds and maybe they really aren’t what all of us think they are. And then I thought, who could be the hero for this who knows all about these birds? That’s how Danny came into my head. I wanted to make him wonderful and special and just like any other six year old, but to have this powerful knowledge that makes him stand out from everyone else.

SP: What do you hope that readers will learn or take away from the book?

ES: I wanted this book to also be more than just about Danny and his abilities. I wanted it also to be about his older brother, Michael. This seemingly naïve seventeen-year -old boy had a charmed life and suddenly the world was ripped out from under his feet. His parents had been kidnapped, an evil biophysicist was after his brother and he finds out there have been major secrets hidden from him. Through all of this, he had to find reserves in his inner character and I really think readers will enjoy how he matured over a week’s period.

I also wanted to explore the relationship between the two brothers. I believe it’s realistic and the fact that Michael would do anything for his little brother was something I wanted to explore in the book.

SP: What advice would you give to young people who are reading your books for the first time?

ES: I want young people to realize that within each of us is a special ability. Not everything can be seen on the surface and we must trust in ourselves in all that we do. I really believe when you put your mind to something, you can achieve it and you should never give up on a dream, even if it takes years to accomplish. You must trust in yourself, always.

SP: Do you have any plans for a follow-up?

ES: I actually have written two chapters of a sequel to FLYING TO THE LIGHT. It takes place when Danny is now thirteen years old. It’s in the beginning stages right now, so I’m not even sure if THAT will change, but so far so good. (no pressure, folks!)

SP: Anything you'd like to add?

ES: I have this wonderful little ferret named Whiskers, who is deaf. We didn’t know the first few days we had her, but one morning my twins, who were seven years old at the time, were screaming at each other, right next to the cage. Our little ferret slept through the entire thing. When she woke up, we tried a lot of different things, crumpled paper, turned on the vacuum, squeaked toys and soon realized she couldn’t hear at all. Now we knew why she was so nippy, why she didn’t respond to us, why she was startled at times when we would walk up behind her.

We started our research immediately on how to communicate with her, reading a bunch of sites on how to train deaf ferrets. We began to use some very basic signs for her. If we wanted her to use the litter box, we’d get down to her level and point at it. Then put her in the litter box. She’d come out and we’d repeat it. If she nipped, we held her away from us, her watching us and would put up our finger and shake our head no, with a firm face. We did this over and over and in a few days, she learned that a stern face with a pointed up finger meant don’t nip and if we pointed to the litter box, she’d go in! We try to be respectful of her and not sneak up behind her… in fact, we’ll stomp on the floor a bit, or clap our hands if she’s walking around, just so she knows we’re coming up behind her so she won’t get startled.

She’s just the greatest little pet and to let us know how much she loves us, she licks our faces, necks, you name it! Just like a puppy! She chases us around the house, steals our socks and gloves and is just the greatest little thing ever.

100+ BOOKS and COUNTING LIST (CLICK PICTURE)

_____234 BOOKS ___________ Titles are added as I find them. This is NOT a comprehensive list. I include books that I consider "contemporary" and usually do not include out-of-print or unavailable titles. Sharon Pajka, Ph.D. yadeafcharacters@ gmail.com

New Children's Books with Deaf Characters! (click KIDS ZONE picture)

Adolescent Deaf Characters

Acquiring fictional books that include deaf characters can be time-consuming and challenging for teachers and librarians. The research examining deaf characters in fiction is extremely limited and most of the recent articles focus on children’s literature-- specifically picture books. I hope this Blog assists teachers in recommending books with characters with whom our students can relate. I also hope this Blog assists in recommending books with multiple realities of the D/deaf human experience.

While my primary focus is adolescent and Young Adult chapter books, I will add information about children's literature and adult 'cross-over' texts from time to time.